Figure Eights With Ears

I don't really like ears on
my eights, since the make the eight larger without really adding
anything. Some people think that ears keep the eight from locking
off in a girth hitch. I have three points to make on that view. First,
if so, why are the ears in the wrong place? To see what I mean,
look at the DMM Anka,
which has the small ears placed in the right place. Second, if
you rig the eight properly, it is almost impossible for the girth
hitch to occur. Finally, even if it does, releasing it is trivial
- if you have the rest of your gear set up properly and know what
you are doing.

I get rather annoyed by the large number of badly-designed
eights on the market. Instead of just copying each other, manufacturers
ought to show some innovation. Look at the Morph
8 - now there is a new idea! It has its problems, but at least
it shows some attempt at innovation. My own Open
Eight is another innovative example, as is Tom Mayer's Lazy 8. The DMM
Anka and the Faders Ballet
have the right idea on where the ears should be. The Famau
and Job are older designs
that also put the ears in the proper place.

If you want a good laugh, look at the weights of some of these
eights!